The saga that is AC Milan’s front office took a surprise, dramatic turn today with the abrupt resignation of Adriano Galliani. The Rossoneri vice president had been at the club for 27 years, a span that’s seen the club win eight league titles and five European Cups, yet set to take the blame for the team’s disappointing Serie A start, Galliani will end his time at Milan on the wrong side of the club’s political turmoil.

That turmoil had pitted critics of head coach Massimiliano Allegri against Barbara Berluconi, daughter of club owner Silvio Berluconi. With her father in legal trouble, Barbara has reportedly stepped into the political void at the club, targeting her criticism at Galliani. With Milan sitting 13th through 13 rounds, the 69-year-old appears to have taken the fall.

“I will resign after the (Champions League) match against Ajax,” Galliani told Ana news agency. “I quit for good reason.

“I understand a generational change but it should not be like that, I deserved more elegance. There has been a severe damage to my image.

“I will resign with or without agreement (on the severance pay).

“My future? I’ll wait some time before deciding. My affection for president Berlusconi is not changed and it won’t change.”

If Galliani’s timeline holds up, Dec. 11 will be his final day with the club.

In his place, the Rossoneri appear set to welcome an exiled legend back to the club. Paolo Maldini, who has not been a part of the club since his retirement in 2009, is set to take up a role in management, reportedly to be named technical director and inherit some of the responsibilities Galliani will leave behind. Whereas the former vice president initially declined to create a position for Maldini (saying the role proposed after his retirement did not exist), the 45-year-old may get to take Galliani’s nameplate off the door.

Maldini’s is a name synonymous with the club, having spent the entirety of his 24-year career at the team. By the time he retired at the age of 41, the 126-time Italian international had won five European cups, seven scudetti, and three world club titles. He holds the record for most appearances in Serie A (647), Champions League (168), and for AC Milan (902). A long-time captain for both club and country, his absence from Milan has been a point of persistent conversation around the club.

Now, at Galliani’s expense, he returns, the legendary defender the beneficiary of a political battle that finally seems resolved. Whether that will translate into better results remains to be seen, but with one chapter of the club’s boardroom drama closed, a little more attention can be focused on the field.

Never mind all that: Harry Kane was healthy, and scored three goals as Spurs kept pace with group mates Real Madrid in filing a 3-0 win at APOEL Nicosia in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.

Kane said he was very proud of the side’s performance, as youngster Anthony Georgiou and seldom-used Georges-Kevin N’Koudou put in shifts in the win. From the BBC:

“We weren’t pleased with the first-half and a couple of chances could have gone the other way. We were more clinical and in the Champions League that is what you have got to be.

“We are missing a few players but the lads who stepped in were fantastic. We have a solid squad and you have to be ready. 3-0 away in the Champions League no matter who you play is a good result.”

Kane has 11 goals in September between club and country, and has six hat tricks in 2017. There may not be a finer big striker firing in Europe right now, and both England and Spurs will hope to ride him well into 2018.

A point from far from home is not the end of the world, but Liverpool will rue its missed chances in a 1-1 draw at Spartak Moscow in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.

Goalkeeper Artyom Rebrov had a stellar day for Spartak before being injured and then replaced by Aleksandr Selikhov, who was also strong for the Russians.

Fernando (not that one) scored a free kick for Spartak, while Philippe Coutinho bagged the equalizer that keeps the Reds ahead of Spartak on goal difference. Both sides are three points behind Sevilla.

Hugo Lloris flubbed an early clearance and was fortunate to see the back-bounding ball dribble wide of his left post.

Carlao could’ve given APOEL a surprise lead close to halftime but headed wide of the net from within 10 yards.

Kane nearly added an assist to his ledger at the start of the second half, but Son Heung-min just missed his effort wide of the frame.

He scored another goal anyway, and another one. Moussa Sissoko set Kane up for the second of the night, a relatively simple finish for the striker, and Kane completed his trio of goals when he headed Kieran Trippier‘s cross home.